French · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 8
Qui est-ce?Who is it?
The word qui (who): "Qui est-ce ?" = who is this person. And French's big politeness choice: tu (informal, to a friend or family) versus vous (polite, to an older person, a stranger, or several people). We also complete the pronouns: nous (we), ils (they). New adjectives: bon (good), nouveau (new), vieux (old), and the adverbs très (very), beaucoup (a lot).
Dialogue
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Qui est-ce?— Who Is It?
- MartinBonjour. Qui est-ce? C'est ta famille?Hello. Who is it? Is it your family?
- MikeOui! Et tu es professeur? Tu as une famille?Yes! And are you a teacher? Do you have a family? (slip: tu with a teacher; use vous)
- MartinAvec un professeur, on dit « vous » : vous êtes, vous avez. Oui, j'ai une grande famille.With a teacher, we say "vous": vous êtes, vous avez. Yes, I have a big family.
- MikePardon! Vous êtes professeur et vous avez une grande famille. C'est très bon!Sorry! You are a teacher and you have a big family. That's very good!
Dialogue
i
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Vieux ou nouveau?— Old or New?
- CamilleC'est mon grand-père. Il est vieux, mais il est très bon.This is my grandfather. He is old, but he is very good.
- MikeEt ta grand-mère? Elle est vieux aussi?And your grandmother? Is she old too? (slip: vieux, grand-mère is feminine → vieille)
- CamilleOn dit « vieille » — c'est une femme. Oui, elle est vieille, mais très bonne.We say "vieille" — she is a woman. Yes, she is old, but very good.
- MikeTon grand-père et ta grand-mère sont vieux. Une bonne famille!Your grandfather and grandmother are old. A good family!
Vocabulary
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- qui
pronounwho
- nous
pronounwe
- ils
pronounthey (m)
- vous
pronounyou (formal / plural)
- celui / celle
pronounthat one (m / f)
- bon / bonne
adjectivegood (m / f)
- nouveau / nouvelle
adjectivenew (m / f)
- vieux / vieille
adjectiveold (m / f)
- très
adverbvery
- beaucoup
adverba lot, much
Grammar
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qui + tu / vous
Explanation
Qui = "who": "Qui est-ce ?" (Who is it?) — "C'est mon grand-père." Now the big politeness choice. For "you", French has two words: tu for a friend, a child, family (informal); vous for an older person, a stranger, or to be polite — and also for SEVERAL people. The verb changes: tu es, but vous êtes; tu as, but vous avez. With a teacher or a stranger, choose vous: it's safer.
Examples
- Qui est-ce? — C'est mon grand-père.Who is it? — It's my grandfather.
- Vous êtes professeur?Are you a teacher? (vous, polite/formal)
- Tu as une sœur?Do you have a sister? (tu, to a friend)
- Nous avons une très bonne famille.We have a very good family.
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